Cylindrical paper container

ABSTRACT

The cylindrical package is formed by folding a blank. The resulting carton is approximately 75% cylindrical and 25% flat. An inner container carries a lid. The inner container has an wrap panel attached to a bottom panel wrapping around the inner container to form a cylindrical outer surface. The cylindrical outer surface is maintained by the profile of the lid. The wrap panel is approximately ⅜th of an inch deeper than the box insuring that the lid panels are always held within the cylinder. A self-adhesive strip on the end of the extension maintains the extension in place after the glue strip is removed by hand. The base of the resultant container is level and allows the container stand evenly.

[0001] This application claims benefit of provisional application Ser.No. 60/305,599, filed Jul. 17, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Products such as cosmetics are often packaged in rigidcylindrical tubes. Cylindrical tubes are manufactured into their finalshape and must be shipped in that form. Other conventional types ofpackaging made from cardboard can be formed from a flat blank. After theblank is formed by a manufacturer, it can be shipped to a purchaserwhere it is formed into a container before being filled with a product.The flat blank is substantially smaller than the completed container andtherefor inexpensive to ship. The overall costs of manufacturing andshipping a rigid cylindrical tube is a drawback to this type ofpackaging.

[0003] There is a need in the art for a cylindrical carton to replacerigid tubes currently used for a wide range of products. The cylindricalcarton can be folded from a blank at the location where it is loadedwith product. The container can be shipped flat from its initial pointof manufacture presenting an inexpensive alternative to the rigid tubewhile preserving the appearance of a value added package.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a cylindricalcontainer folded from a blank.

[0005] It is another object of the invention to provide a carton havingan inner carton surrounded by an wrap panel extending around the innercarton to give a cylindrical appearance.

[0006] It is another object of the invention to provide a cylindricalcarton formed from a blank that can be shipped flat before it is loadedwith the product.

[0007] These and other objects of the invention will become apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the disclosure of theinvention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The cylindrical package is formed by folding a blank. Theresulting carton is approximately 75% cylindrical and 25% flat. An innercontainer carries a lid. The inner container has an wrap panel attachedto a back panel and extending around the inner container to form acylindrical outer surface. The cylindrical outer surface is maintainedby the profile of the lid. The wrap panel is approximately ⅜th of aninch deeper than the box insuring that the lid panels are always heldwithin the cylinder. A self-adhesive strip on the end of the extensionpanel maintains the extension panel in place after the glue strip isremoved by hand. The base of the resultant container is level and allowsthe container to stand evenly.

[0009] The cylindrical package can vary in diameter and depth. Aperturescan be added to the front of the wrap panel to reveal the top panel ofthe inner container. Additionally, the inner container can also have anaperture to reveal part of the contents of the package. These aperturescan be windowed with cellophane if desired. The lids can incorporate anyvariety of locks used for paperboard containers. A header can be addedto the top of the box providing extra space for graphics. An aperture toallow for the package to hang from cantilevered rods can be provided inthe header. The edges of the wrap panel can contain a die cut patternsuch as scalloped edges for added decorative effect, as it is the wrappanel which forms the exterior of the package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 shows the blank for making the package of the invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 depicts the container with the straight tuck box assembled;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a top view of the container;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the container; and

[0014]FIG. 5 is an end view of the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The structure of the container is seen in FIG. 1. The innercontainer is formed from a top panel 32, a left side panel 34, a rightside panel 36, and a bottom panel 38. These four panels are connected inseries by fold lines. A glue panel 37 is foldably connected to the leftside panel 34. Each end of the inner container has an closure. Theclosure is formed by a lid 42 foldably connected to each end of the toppanel. Side flaps 44, 46 are attached to both ends of the left sidepanel 34 and right side panel 36. The side flaps 46 have structureallowing them to interlock. Any type of interlocking structure can beused to secure the side flaps to one another. The lid 42 is providedwith tab 43 which is folded downwardly and placed within the innercontainer when assembled.

[0016] A wrap panel 52 extends from bottom panel 38. The wrap panel hasa width greater than the combined width of the top panel 32, left sidepanel 34 and right side panel 36. Attached to the wrap panel is anextension panel 54. The extension panel has a width substantially equalto the width of the bottom panel.

[0017] Assembly of the blank into the completed carton is explained withreference to FIG. 2. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the panels 32, 34, 36 andend 38 are folded to complete an enclosure. The panels are held in thisposition by adhering the glue flap panel 37 to the inner surface of thebottom panel 38. The inner container is closed by folding the side flapsinwardly and the lid panel 42 downwardly. The tab 43 is folded andtucked into the assembled inner container.

[0018] After assembly of the inner container, to be filled with contentsby the ultimate packager, the wrap panel 52 is folded about the innercontainer to provide the container with a cylindrical appearance. Theextension panel 54 is folded against, and made substantially coextensivewith, the bottom panel 38. The extension panel and bottom panel form aflat area in the cylindrical container.

[0019] The common edge of the wrap panel 52 and extension panel 54provide a stable leveled edge 56. This edge allows the container to bestood on end. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the top edge of the wrap panel52 extends above both the extension panel 54 and the panels making theinner container. The greater extension of the wrap panel insures thatthe lid 42 will remain within the confines of the package. The edge ofthe container can be extended further past the lid 42 to create aborder. The border provides space for graphics and can be provided withan aperture for supporting the package from a rod. FIG. 4 shows thefront view of the package. As can be seen, the front view presents acylindrical appearance and can be used in place of rigid tubes.

[0020]FIG. 5 depicts an end view of the completely assembled carton. Thewrap panel 52 extends from the edge of bottom panel 38 and continuesabout the edge of the closure flap 42 to give the container acylindrical appearance. The extension panel 54 can be seen lying againstthe bottom panel 38. The extension panel 54 has adhesive covered by aprotective strip that is removed to adhere the extension panel 54 to thebottom panel 38. The bottom panel 38 and extension panel 54 create aflat surface, but the overall container is about 75% cylindrical.

[0021] While the invention has been described with reference to apreferred embodiment, variations and modifications would be obvious toone of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention. For instance, the inner container can be made with any numberof panels, such as three panels to make a triangular panel. Theinvention encompasses such variations and modifications and is definedby the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A blank for forming a container, comprising: a plurality ofpanels connected to one another by fold lines, each panel having aheight and width, a wrap panel extending from an edge of said pluralityof panels, said wrap panel having a width greater than the combinedwidth of at least two of said plurality of panels.
 2. The blank of claim1, wherein said plurality of panels is four.
 3. The blank of claim 2,wherein said wrap panel has a width greater than the combined width ofthree of said plurality of panels.
 4. The blank of claim 1, furthercomprising an extension panel attached to said wrap panel.
 5. The blankof claim 4, wherein said extension panel has a width substantially equalto the panel attached to said wrap panel.
 6. The blank of claim 4,wherein said extension panel and said wrap panel each have a bottomedge, said bottom edges of said extension panel and said wrap panelbeing collinear.
 7. The blank of claim 1, further comprising a glue flapattached to said plurality of panels.
 8. The blank of claim 1, furthercomprising closure flaps attached to the top and bottom edge of one ofsaid plurality of panels.
 9. The blank of claim 8, wherein said closureflaps have an arcuate edge.
 10. The blank of claim 8, further comprisinga locking tab on said closure flaps.
 11. A blank for forming acontainer, comprising: a first, second, third and fourth panel connectedin series by fold lines, a wrap panel foldably connected to said fourthpanel, said wrap panel having a width greater than the combined width ofsaid first, second and third panel.
 12. The blank of claim 11, furthercomprising an extension panel attached to said wrap panel.
 13. The blankof claim 12, wherein said extension panel has a width substantiallyequal to the panel attached to said wrap panel.
 14. The blank of claim12, wherein said extension panel and said wrap panel each have a bottomedge, said bottom edges of said extension panel and said wrap panelbeing collinear.
 15. The blank of claim 11, further comprising a glueflap attached to said plurality of panels.
 16. The blank of claim 11,further comprising closure flaps attached to the top and bottom edge ofone of said plurality of panels.
 17. The blank of claim 16, wherein saidclosure flaps have an arcuate edge.
 18. The blank of claim 16, furthercomprising a locking tab on said closure flaps.
 19. A container,comprising: an inner container formed by a plurality of panels includinga bottom panel, a wrap panel foldably connected to said bottom panel bya fold line and having a distal edge, said distal edge substantiallycoextensive with an edge of said bottom panel opposite the fold linebetween said bottom panel and wrap panel.
 20. The container of claim 19,wherein said inner container is formed by a left side panel, a rightside panel, a top panel and said bottom panel.
 21. The container ofclaim 19, further comprising an extension panel attached to said distaledge of said wrap panel.
 22. The container of claim 21, wherein saidextension panel has a width substantially equal to the width of saidbottom panel.
 23. The container of claim 19, wherein the bottom edge ofsaid wrap panel and the bottom edge of said extension panel arecollinear.
 24. The container of claim 19, further comprising a glue flapattached to said plurality of panels.
 25. The container of claim 19,further comprising closure flaps attached to said plurality of panels.26. The container of claim 25, wherein said closure flaps have anarcuate edge.